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Anthony
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« on: June 01, 2009, 10:55:00 AM » |
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Ive noticed a discussion going on in the shout box lately regarding store policies on imported video games. It is clogging up the shout box and I think the discussion should be in the forum so that it doesnt disappear.
Anyway, to summarise it for everyone. No store be it JB Hi-Fi, GAME or EB Games is supposed to accept any form of imported game. Even those that are in PAL format or region free. HOWEVER, most stores will accept imports as long as they are English and work on Australian consoles. It depends on the store, the employee serving you and the console for which the game is on. Imported games are generally accepted even though they arent supposed to be - provided they will work on Australian video game consoles.
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« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 04:56:00 PM by Anthony »
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Neo
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« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2009, 11:04:02 AM » |
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Got a question when you say "No store be in JB Hi-Fi, GAME or EB Games is supposed to accept any form of imported game" is that enforceable by Law or is it just a general guideline?
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MLTZER
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« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2009, 11:40:12 AM » |
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Well ive never had an issue with this. Most of the games ive traded where import DS games. I have a NTSC version of Alone in the Dark for 360, I will still see if I can trade it as it has no region protection on it
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Neo
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« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2009, 11:55:12 AM » |
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The chick I talked to at eb games were saying how the ratings department comes down on them or some **** like that. Was wondering if there's some big issue going on.
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clawster
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« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2009, 01:46:47 PM » |
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Got a question when you say "No store be in JB Hi-Fi, GAME or EB Games is supposed to accept any form of imported game" is that enforceable by Law or is it just a general guideline?
legally, a store can't sell games that haven't been rated by the classification board. imported games may be identical to local versions, but technically they're still required to have an OFLC rating sticker on them before you can sell them. |
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robism
Jr. Member
 Offline
Posts: 84
Slamma Jamma
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« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2009, 03:10:54 PM » |
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most games imported from the UK feature the OFLC rating on the disc, just like all AUS games feature the UK ratings on the disc too
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Neo
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« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2009, 03:21:14 PM » |
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OK 2nd question, usually how enforced is this area? I mean does the ratings police rock up to EB games every month and bust some dealers/offenders or something?
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Guppy
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« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2009, 04:34:26 PM » |
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legally, a store can't sell games that haven't been rated by the classification board. imported games may be identical to local versions, but technically they're still required to have an OFLC rating sticker on them before you can sell them. The OFLC website does state that "an identical version of a previously classified publication does not have to be classified. You may display and sell an identical version of a previously classified publication using its prior classification and conditions for display and sale." ( http://www.oflc.gov.au/www/cob/classification.nsf/Page/Industry_ApplyforClassification_ApplyforClassification-Publications) That would probably explain MLTZER's comment in the shoutbox about a particular EB Games just having a roll of OFLC stickers and slapping them on the import cases. However, for practical purposes it could be a bit dicey to keep a database of which import games are exactly identical to the Australian release (what if you got one wrong?), so I could see why corporate head offices would be reluctant to risk it as a matter of policy. |
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MLTZER
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« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2009, 07:17:01 PM » |
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well thats right, its not like we are trading in banned games or banned versions. And I had alook at my UK game discs, as someone previously mentioned they do have both the Europe and Oz rating tags
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Neo
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« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2009, 07:43:35 PM » |
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Trading ban lifted imo
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MLTZER
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« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2009, 11:49:20 AM » |
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Ok well i just got back from JB, I traded in Narnia and a UK version of Jumper for Mario Kart. I also asked if im able to trade in my NTSC version of Alone in the dark (no region protection) in the 360 trade deals and the chick said yeah thats no problem
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Neo
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« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2009, 01:45:26 PM » |
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Just went to the eb games in melb central, the chick rejected my trade in of an overseas game and told me that the head office is recalling all copies of overseas games because they weren't produced here, anybody know anymore details?
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MLTZER
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« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2009, 03:12:19 PM » |
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NTSC or UK? and ummm as far as im aware no games are produced here
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Neo
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« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2009, 03:23:41 PM » |
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Mine was UK, had that whole pegi **** on it, the lady was talking about OFLC rating, how they can aren't produced here and have not got an Australian rating
Amazingly other ebs actually scan the game fine, just that eb they cannot scan it, it's not in their db
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MLTZER
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« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2009, 03:53:45 PM » |
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EB **** me seriously. the game is exactly the same, pretty sure the bar codes are too.
If the game was not released (therefor not rated) in oz then thats fair enough
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